The other annoying crap with these commercials is the rapid fire comparison between the “low lease rate” and the “discount financing.”  It splashes on the screen in a split second with a whole lot of “additional information” under it.  Seriously, the best thing about TIVO/DVR’s is being able to freeze the frame and read the crap.  Its almost as bad as that damn screen from the producer of “Two and a Half Men.”

Now I have to do “flash math” or something??

Look, after the pretty pictures and the cool shots of the car running, I’m expecting the info pop but really..enough is enough.

• My full-time gig went nuclear and I’ve been working constantly.
• Bought and sold a new Camaro SS
• I did the top end work on the Corvair (cleaned and adjusted the carbs, cleaned the oil cooler and cooling fins under the cover)
• Attended a great seminar on auto painting with the Antique Ford club at Automotive RestoMod in Buford, GA
• did a banzai run in the Vette up to NJ to see an old and dear friend.
• Cruised more car sites that I can remember (thank God for bookmarks!)
• Gutted the interior on the Corvair and started refinishing the pieces I’m going to keep
• Did a couple of road trips (GA to NJ, GA to VA, GA to SC)
• Managed to get to 4 car shows!!
• took a trip through 5 salvage yards
• Found a new classic car yard for a potential new addition to the stable
• I also had a “tech meltdown” and crashed a laptop, demolished my Blu-tooth hands-free earpiece, crashed my Blackberry and went through the rigors (and really..rigors) of buying and configuring a new laptop.

I’ll give you all more info on these and others as I go on.  Right now, I need to fix some issues with the layout of the site.

I’ll also be adding more pictures now that I’ve gotten the laptop up to snuff.  Now just to get my photos moved and upload the new ones.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to much more current posts!

To say I’m upset is an understatement. This was my second year as an Opinion Leader and I also got my better half credentials for the show and was asked to join my first Focus Group.

This year I was prepped and spent a great deal of time getting a roadmap and plans to cover more ground this year.

Such is life….

I generally do product reviews of items that I like.   If I’ve gotten in for free or a sample that may push me to consider it, but in reality, I’d much rather right positive reviews of products I have tested (successfully) AND like.  Who wants to read a downer review?

Don’t get me wrong; there have been products I really liked that didn’t pan out and I chose not to profile them.

I’m heading to Vegas for the SEMA 2010 show and as an Opinion Leader, I’ll be blogging, texting, tweeting, et al., all kinds of social media.  So, this morning the Blackberry takes a powder on me.  I come home to find there’s a problem with my home wireless network and then some of my linked accounts…not linked anymore.

I spent about 6 hours Sunday checking all this and the night before I’m leaving, I’m doing it all again.

I have a new respect for the EPM/PCU’s in automobiles.  How they continue to function with the heat/cold/grime/duty cycles when my other “hardware” can’t get through a week without pitching a hissy is beyond me.

Now don’t get me wrong; I actually love my new spot. Its the position I’ve been looking for…for a long time. And it’s really exciting spot! That’s what makes it hard as I’m right in the crucial and exciting parts of 3 huge projects.

So I haven’t been able to get much done car-wise, blog-wise or even garage-wise.

I’m getting all my tools ready and am planning to not only tweet, pic and twitpic but also YouTube and such. In the meantime, I’m hoping to get onto the computer and reconfigure this blog to make it easier to update and stay updated.

In the meantime, a few short observations:
- I saw a Camaro today with 24′s on it…sorry…didn’t do it for me.
- I really hope whoever is selling those stick-on portholes is happy with himself…these things are everywhere.
- Is there a reason why people with Fulton County, GA tags on their cars all drive like rude asshats??
- Apparently, we’ve stopped people from texting behind the wheel but now they’re back to driving erratically with a phone to the side of their head.

Doesn’t anyone just drive anymore??

So we were running off schedule but everything was lined up: 2 different bottles of single malt scotch- check; Romeo y Julieta cigars-check; cold beer- check. Now, off to get the items I didn’t get the chance to beforehand; you know, the “other stuff.”

So off to Wal-Mart to grab the best price on Mobil 1 and a Fram Xtra-Guard filter. That was quick and painless. Now for gear lube for the rear end. I’m looking and while talking with Steve, he mentions he moved his Corvette onto Royal Purple oil a few months ago and maybe I should try it.

Back story: my Impala SS has been groaning from its differential for the last 2 1/2 years. Its been serviced twice and I’ve used the GM friction additive each time. In fact, Steve did it with me the last time. Each time, it was better for a short time and started the “posi moan” again on slow turns and clacking like it was eating shims for lunch. I talked to my friend at the shop I used and he started prepping me for replacing the whole pig. In the meantime. I figured maybe now was the time to step up to a real performance diff. So I’m eyeing Strange Engineering. Randy’s, Dana..and looking at big bucks. End-Back story.

So, Steve’s rapping Royal Purple and I decide, it makes sense to try it. But Wal-Mart doesn’t carry it so off to O’Reillys to grab some Royal Purple gear lube. We find it right quick and it tells us NOT to use any additional friction additives so that offset the cost. So I decide to buy enough of all of it to do the job twice, just it case. So get a few gaskets and we’re out of there.

So now fully equipped its back to the shop and the oil change goes by in 20 minutes..including double checks, and we’re onto the rear end work.

Off comes the rear cover and it drains right quick and things look good. No shavings on the magnet, no clap-a-doodle in a puddle on the bottom, no excessive play, nothing at all. Steve does a great job cleaning the cover and I got things cleaned up on the case.

So he’s getting the gasket glued to the cover..or tried to. Gasket doesn’t fit. And now it starts….

“Are you sure Steve?” I said innocently. “Hmm..well I’m looking at it..doesn’t look right to me” he says, putting his glasses on.

“Scotch?”

“Sounds good”

I get a couple of fingers of scotch and we get out the cigars. We sit in the shade and wax poetic about Pontiac Bonnevilles, modern 500hp LS series engines, Bunkie Knudsen, the re-emergence of the classic flamed paintjob (he still hasn’t fully embraced it but he is learning/trying), etc.

So we finish up and we decide to go back and get the right gasket. We take the cover with us and back to O’Reillys we go. Our helpful associate Carl looks the part number up again and confirms the part he gave me. Now the dance starts.

He looks at the gasket and the cover…confirms that the gasket is not right and hits the books. We go back over the details and info…nope, still the same. Step 1. I look at Steve. He’s starting to harsh his mellow. I suggest we look at other products as Carl calls his contact at Fel-Pro. “No, checked that; that’s the number I have.” Carl says into the phone.

“Lemme check the back again”

“No problem”

Carl comes out from the back with another gasket; a quick check confirms: wrong-o.

I’m tired of standing and thinking of another scotch. Steve looks like he’s determining who he’ll have to kill first.

“GM made a gajillion of these rear ends and put them in police cars; they have to be serviced.” Steve blurts out. I point out that they stopped making them in 2000, ten years ago.

Carl is calling his contact at Mr Gasket. Same general conversation then he says, “Impala SS” and looks at me. I give him the nod. Apparently the gaskets I got are for a Caprice which have a smaller ring than my Impala. Good news!

Bad news- Mr Gasket is no longer “supporting” this differential and therefore, neither is anyone else. Steve has a look like that guy you see in the movies where he’s about to scream that somebody better start giving him answers before it gets ugly.

Carl looks at me and of course, he is going to refund the 8.00 I spent on the two gaskets but he doesn’t have any gaskets. He does mention that most guys (I’m assuming he means guys that actually work on their cars or actual mechanics)just use RTV. I look at the tube of RTV. The smallest one is 17.00.

So now I went from 2 bad gaskets for 8.00 to no gaskets available to 17.00 for a tube of RTV that would last a week at a shop ans which would last me a year, or it dried up.

But I know there’s Dahlwinnie and Laphroaig at home and I’m not working. “Well, we can check with other auto parts stores to see if they have any” Steve says helpfully and then proceeds to cross-examine Carl as to why a gasket-maker would not keep producing gaskets for a rear end that was such widely used. Carl looks sheepish and Steve starts really going off.
I decide that we need to hit the last place you want to buy maintenance parts….the auto dealership! GASP!!

We hit the car and truck up to the Chevy dealership. I used to go to this dealership for my warranty work and when I couldn’t or didn’t have time for the repairs but it wss taken over by another dealer and now, not so much.

We pop in and in 10 minutes and 18.00 later, I have my two gaskets. Steve and I debate the issues and merits of gasket production, parts availability, Dahlwinnie vs. Laphroaig, and how great the day is.

Back at the shop, we get a beer and start the puttering. The gasket is correct and Steve has it on in a flash. As it dries, we start the usual double-checks and get ready to finish the job. The cover goes back on but luckily I’m a lefty and he’s a righty so we swap out the cramped opportunities (which are plentiful under this car, even as big as it is, because there’s a huge gas tank under there with what may be the sharpest ‘+@*#- heat shield ever put on a car) and the job is done. At least until the lube goes back in.

Now who is the genius that puts the filler hole on the side? Ok, the gear lube container is too big to get high enough to pour out. I’d like to see the funnel that would enable even a viscous liquid like this to get there.

I resort to the tried and true “cram it in, squeeze the hell out of it and smash it up as high as possible.” It works; its ugly, but effective. It’s also not enough. Back to the store.

So, a lot of the time was eaten up on trips to the store/dealer. But the job gets done and we take it out to an industrial parking lot area to run the eights. We do them backward, forward, do them backward again. We even do a couple (ahem) high speed loops. It sounds better but not great but we call it a day.

As we clean up, we start debating again why we went to such trouble to get a gasket…

Well, no reason not to have another cigar and a few more fingers of scotch.

Pass that lighter, Steve.

Another successful garage therapy day!

Two of my best friends are out celebrating a birthday by driving 7 exotic cars on a race track out in Vegas. Now don’t get me wrong, they invited me (actually us- me and the bride) but just couldn’t make the trip on short notice. Also, I’m no longer self-employed so I have to make plans a little more in advance.

Anyway, these guys are major buddies and true car nuts. Both of them have been through more cars in the ten years I’ve known them than I have teeth. We have a blast and wax poetic about automotive topics with good scotch and cigars whenever we can. They’re hysterical, hard-working, genuine guys..and this week…I HATE them!

They’re out living it up in Vegas driving Ferraris, Lamborghinis, an Audi RS8 and a Porsche…at Vegas Speedway.

Ok, its Vegas. That’s the first thing. But then…they’re going to hot-shoe dream cars around a racetrack flat out (or at least as fast as their stones will allow). Now I’m pissed. This is what I want to be doing. They’re killing me.

Ok, envy expressed, cleansing breaths…ooomm. These guys have the stones to stretch the legs of these cars and they better have gotten the video package.

I want to see it..even if I have to live it vicariously. Because even with jealousy…that’s what car guys do.<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 330px"

The Three Amigos!

My own forays are morphing into more scheduled events rather than puttering almost every day. This year, although I have added the Camaro SS to the stable and am enjoying it immensely, my other rides are suffering.

I’ve been gathering bits and pieces for my Corvair project and moving it around the driveway and garage for 5 years. My plan was to get going on it with the initial teardown work starting right after I finished the “refinish” of the garage. Of course, then it was the “honey-do” list of things that had to be finished before the fall.

I did manage to get a full fluid change (to Royal Purple) on my Impala SS. Of course, the paint needs attention but with no indoor space available, I’ve just been washing and keeping it waxed.

The Corvette has been “garage jewelry” for months, at least since June 25 when I drove it for Corvette anniversary. The thing is still sweet and all and I’ve been begging the bride to motor it around. We’re taking a road trip next month so it will get a workout. For those of you non-Corvette people; that car gets 31-32 mpg on the highway (at possibly extra-legal speeds with the a/c on).

So now I schedule the garage days and try to stay abreast of the maintenance schedule and other items I want to do. Its not bad but it does kill me a little inside.

On the horizon: the SEMA 2010 show, the auction at the Robson Ranch and getting the Camaro ready for Maxton Mile next spring.

I try to keep it moving whenever I can. And that’s what’s all car guys do…when life gets in the way.

<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"

The new ride!

It starts with the airfilter/oil filter, moves on to maybe the filter in the automatic trans.  Then you get a little more serious, radiator, water pumps, brakes and something that everyone does, shock absorbers.

For you younger guys that were all brought up on struts, most cars used to use shock absorbers and this was one of the first “big” jobs you did.  Big, not that it was difficult but the car, or at least a corner of it, had to come off the ground and you had to get under it.

One of the first things we did back in the day was to add air shocks to the rear, to jack up the car.  You had to have the right rake even if the car barely moved and it was an absolute pre-requisite for the addition of Cragar mags!  (They’re still around, so watch your mouth!)

Anyway, as you get older and hopefully better, you realize that swapping out shocks is considered general maintenance and truth be told, are very simple to do…at least that’s what you’d think.

Another beautiful garage-therapy day.  Steve and I have a list of tasks to perform and we are enjoying our morning.  A couple of  “lube jobs” and we are having a break when I mention if he has time to help me swap the shocks on my Impala.  “Sure..we’re here and it shouldn’t take too long.”   Famous last words.

My 1996 Impala SS is one of the last full-size RWD cars Chevy made.  These things were basically the same from 1989 to 1996 and really, the running gear arrangement is the same from about 1982 through 1996.  If you’ve done this job on any similar car, this is a no-brainer.

Wisely, I went ahead and purchased the front shock removal tool since the A-arm on the Impala has a pretty deep top opening.  For those well aware of this tool, bear with me.  The front shock tool is a two-piece metal arrangement wherein a socket grips the nut that holds the shock on and the inner sleeve of this tool had a specially-shaped end to hold the top shaft of the shock from spinning.   It’s hexagonal so you can use two open-end wrenches and take the top nut right off.

I purchased (or re-purchased I should say, because I know I have one but just couldn’t find it) this tool, in advance so we would make quick work of the job.  And it worked perfectly and the front shocks were out and replaced, both sides, in about 20-25 minutes.

The rear shocks don’t require any special tools and are simple, 2 bolts top and 1 bottom.  Or so I thought.

After realizing that I could not use my Kwik-Lift, we moved to the outside parking pad and jacked her up.   I got out the old creeper (doesn’t that funny now..a creeper?..ok, maybe that’s me…ignore) and went under the car.  The lower bolts came loose on both sides without issue.

Ok…before I go further..let me admit another geekness about me.  I read directions and I follow them.   Also, and here’s the killer, when I bought the Impala, I actually went to the back of the manual and ordered the service manual for the car…the same one the service stations and dealer shops use.

Back under the car, steve hands me my rachet extension and I start loosening the upper bolts for the rear shock.   Turning, turning, turning, …nothing.  So I try the other one..again…turning, turning, turning…nertz.

Ok…never one to pass an opportunity…Steve slides under and he goes at it.  10 minutes later, same result.   “Well that’s odd!” we both say out loud, not really to each other or anyone else.   “Beer break?” I ask and he agrees.  I get two beers out and say, “let me check the book.”

Moving to the workbench I have the page opened to the rear shock section and it says “Remove top bolts from shock, remove shock, place new shock, replace bolts.”   At this point, I’m assuming that what I have seen in the past is true.  That the top of the rear shock bolts into a chunk of steel that is welded to the frame and that this piece of steel is about 1/4 or 3/8 thick and the hole is threaded.  Now I’ve seen in a ton of pictures of restored frames and for the life of me, the only other thing I’ve seen is when the nut is welded in place.

So for me, I’m assuming that either the plate holes are threaded for the bolts or there is a welded-on-nuts on the other side.    We try both sides of the car and the same thing happens.

“Maybe there’s a nut up there?” Steve says.   With flashlight in hand I respond “Well how the hell do they expect you to get to it…there’s only about 3/4 of an inch between the plate and the steel body of the car!”

Steve, ever calm, “Let’s check the book.”  Out I go and the two of us, take turns reading the section again, out loud, to each other.   I find the diagram..and again, we stare at it, like we are seeking the secret code to interpreting hieroglypics.  “It doesn’t say jack squat about there being a nut up there.”

We scratch our heads and take another beer break.  We’ve been at a job that we allotted an hour for, including beer breaks, now for about 90 minutes.

We jacked the back end up higher and the body shifted enough that I could get my hand in between the body and the top of the mounting plate.  “you’re not going to believe this, but there’s a nut up here..and its not welded to the mount.”

Now we have to figure out how to get a wrench on it and work at this extreme angle.  Which we do, after much swearing and foul language.  Interestingly enough, we have to swap sides with each other.  I’m a lefty and he’s a righty so at the obscene angles we were working at, we had to each do our strong side.

The new shocks go on and if you think it was a freakin’ bear to get that nut threaded onto the bolts, you don’t know the half of it.   “How the hell could GM do that to this car???  Tony, these things were used as police models..they had to be maintained quickly…this is just ridiculous!”

“Dahlwinnie, Steve??”   “Hell yeah!”

So, the shocks are on and those ^*$#+$^)# nuts are tightened and the car is back on its wheels.

Two scotches later, we both still looked at the manual and it didn’t say anything about there being nuts on the tops of the mounting plates.

Just for kicks and giggles, I thumbed through my Haynes manual…it didn’t say anything about them either.

For any children that may have been in the area (about a 2 mile radius): sorry about the foul language!